A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers

Circa 1920s-2009, Bulk: 1944-2009

Collection 105

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Eckhardt, Nadine Title: Nadine Eckhardt Papers Dates: Circa 1920s-2009, Bulk: 1944-2009 Abstract: Correspondence, photographs, personal papers, and other research

materials represent the life of Nadine Eckhardt, author of Duchess of Palms. The materials were collected over the life span of Eckhardt, born in 1931, and were used in research for her memoir. The materials are arranged into five series: Personal Papers, Correspondence, Photographs, Printed Materials, and Duchess of Palms.

Identification: Collection 105 Extent: 14 boxes (6 linear feet) Language: English Repository: Southwestern Writers Collection, The Wittliff Collections, Texas State

University-San Marcos

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 2

Biographical Sketch

Nadine Ellen Cannon was born in McAllen, Texas on January 20, 1931. After graduating

from high school in 1948, Eckhardt enrolled in North Texas State College in Denton, Texas to

pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree. While there she met her first husband, writer Billy Lee

Brammer, whom she married in 1950 when she was nineteen years old. In 1951, she and

Brammer moved to Austin where she worked for the University of Texas and briefly at the

Austin American-Statesman newspaper. Two daughters, Sidney and Shelby were born during

this time. After several years in Austin, she and Brammer moved to Washington D.C. in 1955 to

work on the staff of Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson. The marriage to Brammer began to

deteriorate, and she moved back to Austin pregnant with their third child, William. The couple

eventually divorced in 1961. During this time, Brammer released his critically acclaimed, but

controversial book, The Gay Place, a fictional account of Texas politics.

Now single and working at the State Capitol, Nadine met Robert “Bob” Eckhardt, a

Texas state representative from Houston, whom she married in 1962. The couple moved to

Houston, Eckhardt’s hometown, and the birthplace of their only child, daughter Sarah. In 1966,

Bob Eckhardt ran for Congress. Eckhardt won, and Nadine moved to Washington, D.C. There

she performed the duties of a congressman’s wife as well as helping to manage Eckhardt’s

congressional staff. She became involved in women’s rights issues and the Civil Rights

movement of Dr. Martin Luther King. The Eckhardts separated in 1976 and divorced in 1977.

Nadine moved back to Austin, Texas.

After her divorce from Bob Eckhardt, Nadine eventually opened a restaurant in east

Austin – Nadine’s, and she ran it for a year and a half. She moved to New York City and worked

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 3

for another restaurant, also named Nadine’s, owned by her daughter Sarah’s boyfriend. In 1991,

Nadine moved back to Austin permanently.

While living in Austin, Eckhardt worked as an assistant to writer Molly Ivins, in real

estate, and worked on Ann Richards’ gubernatorial campaign in 1992. In 2009, Eckhardt

released, Duchess of Palms, a memoir of her life and work in Washington D.C. and Austin,

Texas. The title was inspired by a beauty pageant she had won as a teenager.

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 4

Scope and Content Note

The Nadine Eckhardt Collection spans from the 1920s-2008. The collection is comprised

of photographs, correspondence, business materials, newspapers clippings and early and final

versions of Duchess of Palms. The original order of the Nadine Eckhardt Collection was

maintained with minimal changes. The collection was originally arranged chronologically by

Duchess of Palms materials, correspondence between Nadine and Billy Lee Brammer 1956-

1968, correspondence between Bob, Nadine, and her family 1970s-1983, and Nadine’s personal

correspondence, 1944 through 1999. The chronological order was maintained, but the materials

were organized into five series, which also contain subseries: Personal papers-restaurant and

scrapbook materials, family papers-Billy Lee Brammer, Bob Eckhardt, family, and personal,

Photographs-organized chronologically at item level, Print Materials-newspapers and Duchess of

Palms Materials-drafts, timelines and notes.

Original folder tiles are in quotation marks. In this collection you will find materials

related to Billy Lee Brammer, Bob Eckhardt, and Duchess of Palms.

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 5

Series Description Series I: Personal Papers, 1950-2008 Box 1 The first series includes papers related to the life of Nadine Eckhardt. There are invitations for Bob and Nadine Eckhardt, drawings by unidentified sources, and documents relating to the restaurant Nadine’s. Series II: Correspondence, 1944-2008 Boxes 1-7 The second series is divided into four subseries: Billy Lee Brammer, Bob Eckhardt, Family, and Other/Unidentified. All correspondence is arranged chronologically within the subseries. Included are many letters that Nadine Eckhardt wrote to someone else and photocopied for her own records. The largest of the subseries is Other/Unidentified, and within this contains correspondence with acclaimed journalist, Bob Sherrill and several of Eckhardt’s high school boyfriends. Series III: Photographs, Circa 1920s-2000s Box 8 The photographs are arranged in chronological order by decade. Many of the earlier photographs include her mother and stepfather. There are some photographs of Nadine Eckhardt during the time she modeled. There are also numerous photographs of Nadine Eckhardt’s children, Shelby, Sidney and Sarah, and many of Bob Eckhardt. Series IV: Printed Material, 1955-2008 Box 9 The fourth series mainly consists of news clippings and magazine articles. These are arranged into subseries: Billy Lee Brammer, Bob Eckhardt, Nadine Eckhardt, Family, and related resources. There are documents, event programs, and articles related to travel included. Series V: Duchess of Palms, 1970-2009 Boxes 10-14

The fifth series is related to Eckhardt’s research, writing, and publishing of her memoir Duchess of Palms. It includes timelines of Eckhardt’s life and several working copies of the manuscript.

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 6

Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Open for Research.

Preferred Citation

Nadine Eckhardt Papers, Southwestern Writers Collection, Texas State University-San Marcos

Acquisition Information

Donated by Nadine Eckhardt in 2010.

Processing Information

Processed by Buck Cole, Megan Galindo, Sarah Marshall, and Stacey Wilson, 2011

Notes to Researchers

For additional Billy Lee Brammer material, see the Billy Lee Brammer Papers located in the Southwestern Writers Collection.

Additional Bob Eckhardt papers can be found at the Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 7

Detailed Description of the Collection Series I: Personal Papers, 1950-2008. Box Folder 1 1 “Bob Eckhardt list of invites” 1 2 Drawings 1 3 “Grandma” 1 4 “Nadine’s Restaurant” Series II: Correspondence, 1944-2008.

Billy Lee Brammer 1 5 1951 1 6 1952 1 7 1956 1 8 1957 1 9 1958 1 10 1959 1 11 1960 1 12 1961 1 13 1970

Bob Eckhardt 1 14 1961 1 15 1962 1 16 1965 1 17 1966 1 18 1968 1 19 1969 1 20 1972 1 21 1974 1 22 1975 1 23 1987

Family 2 1 1956 2 2 1957 2 3 1960 2 4 1961

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 8

Series II: Correspondence-continued Box Folder Family-continued 2 5 1962 2 6 1963 2 7 1964 2 8 1966 2 9 1967 2 10 1969 2 11 1970 2 12 1971 2 13 1972 2 14 1973 2 15 1974-1975 2 16 1976-1977 2 17 1978 2 18 1979 2 19 1980 2 20 1981 2 21 1982 2 22 1983 2 23 1984 2 24 1985 2 25 1986 2 26 1987 2 27 1988 2 28 1990 2 29 1998 2 30 2005 2 31 2006

Other/Unidentified 3 1 1944 3 2 1945 3 3 1946 3 4 1947-1948 3 5 1956 3 6 1957 3 7 1961-1962 3 8 1962-1963 3 9 1964-1965 3 10 1966

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 9

Series II: Correspondence-continued Box Folder Other/Unidentified-continued 3 11 1967 3 12 1968

4 1 1969 4 2 1970 4 3 1971 4 4 1972 4 5 1973 4 6 1974 4 7 1975

5 1 1975 5 2 1976 5 3 1977 5 4 1978 5 5 1979 5 6 1980 5 7 1981-1982 5 8 1983 5 9 1984 6 1 1985 6 2 1986 6 3 1987 6 4 1988 6 5 1989 6 6 1990 7 1 1991 7 2 1992-1993 7 3 1994-1995 7 4 1996 7 5 1997 7 6 1998 7 7 1999 7 8 2003 7 9 2004 7 10 2005 7 11 2006 7 12 2008 7 13 undated

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 10

Series III: Photographs, Circa 1920s-2000s. 1920s Photographs 8 1 Nadine Ellen Thompson (Nadine Eckhardt’s mother); taken prior to 1929;

b & w photocopy of a 8 x 10 photograph Leslie Wells (Nadine Eckhardt’s biological father); taken prior to 1930s;

b & w photocopy of a 8 x 10 photograph 1930s Photographs

8 2 Noah Cannon, Nadine Cannon, Little Nadine, Leslie Cannon; circa 1939; b & w photocopy of a 8 x 10 photograph; taken by Denson Photo in Dallas, TX

1940s Photographs

8 3 Noah Lee Cannon (Nadine Eckhardt’s adoptive father); circa mid 1940s; b & w photocopy of a 3 ½” x 3 ½” photograph

Photo information sheet

1950s Photographs 8 4 “Nadine Cannon modeling underwear and pjs for a Vanity Fair Factory

near Denton, TX;” Nadine Cannon; 1949 or 1950; b & w photocopy of a 7” x 5” photograph

Photo information sheet for 1 Nadine Cannon; 1949 or 1950; b & w photocopy of a 4 ½” x 3 ¼”

photograph Photo Information Sheet for 3 Five “Children’s Photos,” 1950s

Sam Rayburn and Ralph Yarborough; early 1950; b & w photocopy of a 4 ½” by 3 ¼” photograph

“Nadine on roof of architecture building;” Nadine Cannon; 1951; b & w photocopy of a 3” x 1 ¾” photograph

“Stevenson at press conference LBJ Ranch;” Grace Tully, Sam Rayburn, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Adlai; 1955; b & w photocopy of a 5” x 7” photograph

“Mary Margaret and Nadine sitting on Harry McPherson’s knees at Party at Duggers House;” Mary Margaret Wylie, Harry McPherson and Nadine; 1955; b & w photocopy of a 4 ½ ” x 5” photograph

“Nadine sitting on Harry McPherson’s lap; Harry McPherson and Nadine; 1955; b & w photocopy of a 3 ¾ ” x 3 ¾ ” photograph

“LBJ in majority leader’s office; Lyndon Baines Johnson; 1955 or 1956;b& w photocopy of a 7 ¾ ” x 8” photograph “Nadine in Arlington House; Nadine, b & w photocopy of a 5” x 3” photograph; taken by Bill Brammer

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 11

Series III: Photographs-Continued Box Folder 1950s Photographs-continued 8 4 “Willie Morris, Nadine Brammer with daughters Sydney and Shelby

Brammer 1957 in front of house on Enfied Rd. Austin;” Willie Morris, Nadine Brammer, Sidney Brammer and Shelby Brammer; 1957; b & w photocopy of a 3 ¾ ” x 2 ¾ ” photograph

“Nadine holding up fish at LBJ Ranch-with daughter Sidney;” Nadine Brammer and Sidney Brammer; 1957 or 1958; b &w photocopy of a 4 ½ ” x 3 ½ ” photograph, taken by Bill Brammer Three photocopies taped onto one page “Nadine on NTSC campus. Taken by Bill Brammer 1950;” Nadine; 1950;

B &w photocopy of a 3” x 5 ¼ ” photograph, taken by Bill Brammer

1960s Photographs

8 5 “Nadine and Michael Janeway at Paleface Ranch;” Nadine and Michael Janeway; circa 1960; 4 ¼ ” x 3 ¼ ” b & w photograph

“Nadine and Michael Janeway at Paleface Ranch;” Nadine and Michael Janeway; circa 1960, 4” x 6” b & w photograph

“Nadine and Michael Janeway at Paleface Ranch circa 1960;” Nadine, circa 1960; b & w photocopy of a 3” x 2 ½ ” photograph

“Bob Eckhardt, State Representative from Houston;” Bob Eckhardt; 1962 or 1963, b & w photocopy of a 10” x 7 ¾ ” photograph; taken by Russell Lee

“Bob Eckhardt, State Representative from Houston;” Bob Eckhardt; 1962 or 1963, b & w photocopy of a 10” x 7 ¾ ” photograph; taken by Russell Lee

Photo information sheet for 4 and 5 “Bob and Nadine 1963 moved into house newly built,” Nadine and Bob

Eckhardt, 1963, 4 ¾ ” x 3 ¾ ” b& w photograph “ Bob and Nadine 1963 moved into house;” Nadine and Bob Eckhardt; 1963; 6 ¾ ” x 5 ¾ ” b & w photograph “Russell Lee volunteered to take Bob’s photo for his campaign for Congress in 1966;” Bob Eckhardt; 1966; b & w photocopy of a

10” x 7 ¼ ” photograph Photo Information Sheet for 9 “L-R, Norma Eckhardt, Bob’s mother, state rep. Bob Eckhardt who was

running for Congress and Nadine Eckhardt, in Bob’s Campaign HDQTRS. In 1966;” Norma Eckhardt and Bob Eckhardt; 1966; b & w photocopy of a 7 ½ ” x 9 ¾ ” photograph

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 12

Series III: Photographs-Continued Box Folder 1956s Photographs-continued 8 5 “Congressman Bob Eckhardt and Nadine on Air Force One en route to

Party in Austin with LBJ in June 16, 1967;” Bob and Nadine Eckhardt; June 16, 1967; b & w photocopy of a 3 ¼ ” x 3 ¼ ” photograph

“Bob Eckhardt, Bob Pierpoint (Newsman, deceased), Barbara Bush, Nadine, Jessica Hobby Cato, Cong. George Bush, Bill Hobby on Capitol Steps 1967;” Bob Echardt, Bob Pierpoint, Barabara bush, Nadine Eckhardt, Jessica Hobby Cato, Congressman George Bush, Bill Hobby; 1967; b & w photocopy of a 7 ½ ” x 6” photograph

“Photo: L-R Paul (deceased), LBJ, Nadine, Bob Eckhardt, Bayou Club, Houston, at party in honor of John Connally 1969 Feb. 13;” Lyndon Baines Johnson, Nadine and Bob Eckhardt, February 13, 1969; b & w photocopy of a 6 ½ “ x 7 ¾ photograph

1970s Photographs

8 6 “Taken in District?;” Sarah Eckhardt (8 yrs old); April 30, 1973, 8” x 10” color photograph

“Nadine, Bob and Sarah at reception in Bob’s District Office for federal employees;” Nadine, Bob, and Sarah Eckhardt; April 30, 1973; b & w photocopy of a 8” x 10” photograph

“L-R Unknown, Unknown, Nadine, Beulah Shepard, 1973;” Nadine Eckhardt and Beaulah Shepard; 1973; b & w photocopy of a

5 ¼” x 6 ½ ” photograph “L-R: Grace Tully, Nadine, State Senator Walter Richter, Nadine, Bob

Eckhardt, Cong. Chick Kazen, at Andrews AFB, waiting for LBJs body to arrive;” 1973; Grace Tully, Nadine, State Senator Walter Richter, Nadine, Bob Eckhardt, Cong. Chick Kazen; 6 ½” x 8 ½ ” b & w photograph

8 6 “L-R: Grace Tully, Nadine, State Senator Walter Richter, Nadine, Bob Eckhardt, Cong. Chick Kazen, at Andrews AFB, waiting for LBJs body to arrive;” 1973; Grace Tully, Nadine, State Senator Walter Richter, Nadine, Bob Eckhardt, Cong. Chick Kazen; 6 ½” x 8 ½ ” b & w photograph

“L-R: Grace Tully, Nadine, State Senator Walter Richter, Nadine, Bob Eckhardt, Cong. Chick Kazen, at Andrews AFB, waiting for LBJs body to arrive;” 1973; Grace Tully, Nadine, State Senator Walter Richter, Nadine, Bob Eckhardt, Cong. Chick Kazen; 6 ½” x 8 ½ ” b & w photograph

“Hofneinz Pavilion in Houston, Mack Hofheinz was Mayor’s wife;” 1974; Bob Eckhardt, Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, Mack Hofheinz; b & w photocopy of a 3 ½ ” x 4 ¾ ” photograph

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 13

Series III: Photographs-Continued Box Folder 1970s Photographs-continued 8 6 “Hofneinz Pavilion in Houston, Mack hofheinz was Mayor’s wife;” 1974;

b & w photocopy of a 3 ½ ” x 4 ¾ ” photograph Twenty-nine “1975” “Photos of Nadine, Betty Dooley and Ann Brinkley and Bob in front of

house in Georgetown 1975;” Ann Brinkley and Bob Eckhardt; April 1975; b & w photocopy of a 3 ½ ” x 4 ¾ ” photograph

Four “1975” Twelve “1976” Five “1977” Seven “1979”

1978 Photographs

8 7 Thirteen “from 1978” Seven “from 1978” Duplicates of photos taken in Nadine’s Restaurant

Six “from 1978” Thirty-four “from 1978” Duplicates of photos taken in Nadine’s

Restaurant Three “from 1978” Funerals Thirty-six “from 1978” Six “from 1978” Funerals

1970s Photographs

8 8 Thirty-eight “1970s photos”

1980s Photographs 8 9 Nine “1980s”

Twenty-three “1981s” “1981” “Photo of Nadine and Ann Richards Fundraiser at Nadine’s in

NYC October 30, 1989;” Nadine and Ann Richards; October 30, 1989; 4” x 5” color photograph

“1981” “Nadine’s in NYC 1988 or ’89;” Nadine; 1988 or 1989; 3 ½ ” x 4 ¾ ” color photograph

“1981” “Nadine’s in NYC 1988 or ’89;” Nadine; 1988 or 1989; 3 ½ ” x 4 ¾ ” color photograph

“1981” “Nadine’s in NYC 1988 or ’89;” Nadine; 1988 or 1989; 3 ½ ” x 4 ¾ ” color photograph

2000s Photographs

8 10 “Nadine/Personal/Photos 2006”

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 14

Series III: Photographs-Continued Box Folder

“Additional Scrapbook Materials” 8 11 Ten Family Photos

“Pics of Texas Capital by Rosalind Eckhardt plus photos of Bob”

8 12 Eight unidentified photos “Roy and Lil at Ann Richards political Party- 9 Dec 1975” Six unidentified photos Nineteen Texas Capital by Rosalind Eckhardt in mid 70s”

Photographs of Unidentified Years

8 13 “George Crane 1971 Georgetown University Student;” 2 ½” x 1 ¾” b & w photograph

“G.W. Bush at dedication of LBJ Library, Austin 1967;” 2 ½” x 1 ¾” b & w photograph; taken by Nadine

Three “Curtis Graves 68 and 89” Thirteen unidentified photos NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, TX; L-R Mrs. Robert Turner, Robert Tuner, Mrs. Bob Eckhardt, Astronaut Michael Collins;

January 27, 1967; NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, TX; L-R Mrs. Robert Turner, Robert Tuner, Mrs. Bob Eckhardt, Astronaut Michael Collins; January 27, 1967; NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, TX; L-R Mrs. Robert Turner, Robert Tuner, Mrs. Bob Eckhardt, Astronaut Michael Collins; January 27, 1967; NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Unidentified photo

Series IV: Printed Material, 1955-2008. 9 1 Articles, Billy Lee Brammer 9 2 Articles, Bob Eckhardt 9 3 Articles, Nadine 9 4 Articles, Related Resources 9 5 Documents 9 6 Articles, Event Programs 9 7 Articles, Travels

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 15

Series V: Duchess of Palms, 1970-2009. Correspondence 10 1 A-Z 10 2 Donegan, Craig 10 3 Harpers & Row Publishers 10 4 Texas Monthly Press 10 5 University of Texas Press 10 6 Copy Rights 10 7 Photos

Timelines 10 8 “Summaries on timelines by year” 10 9 “BLB, Late fifties and early sixties” 10 10 “1961-66” 10 11 “1966-1977” 10 12 “Written in 1976 by BLB and Nadine” 10 13 “1977-1988” 10 14 “1988-1989” Notes 11 1 “Transcripts of Interviews” 11 2 “Chronology of 55, 56, 57 Furnished by LBJ Library” 11 3 “List of possible readers to read manuscript” 11 4 “Used while ending my book, brainstormed, 10-28-04” 11 5 “Suggested titles” 11 6 “Articles Re: What publishers are looking for” 11 7 “The 60’s” 11 8 “Articles about women to read for ideas” 11 9 “50’s notes I used in chap.1” 11 10 “Writing styles/suggestions” 11 11 “To myself, 1989, 87, 88” 11 12 “To myself 1982, 83, 90’s” 11 13 “Scrapbook material 40’s, 50’s, 60’s” 11 14 “Re 1973” 11 15 “On the 90’s and earlier (70’s, 60’s)” 11 16 “End of book and epilogue” 11 17 “About Bob E.” 11 18 “Epilogue” Drafts 12 1 “Early Manuscripts” 12 2 “7-16-07, with revisions sent to Allison Faust” 12 3 “Notes and revisions” 12 4 “Includes schedule as of 3/12”

A Guide to the Nadine Eckhardt Papers (Collection 105) 16

Series V: Duchess of Palms-Continued Box Folder Drafts-continued 13 1 “Copy of M.S. sent to Tim and Library of Congress” 13 2 “Craig Donegan’s efforts” 13 3 “Mother, Grandma, family” 13 4 “LBJ” 13 5 “Removed from Binder” 13 6 “M.S.S.” 14 1 “Printed 6/16/05” 14 2 “Selected chapters with notes from Tim” 14 3 “Cleaned up M.S. 8-2-07 by KMJ” 14 4 “Cleaned up M.S. 8-16-07 by KMJ” 14 5 “Cleaned up MS 8-16-07”